He was remanded on continuing bail to appear before Mr Justice Paul Carney for sentencing next Monday.

First Holy Communion

The abuse began when O’Brien raped the victim the night before she was to make her First Holy Communion, when she was about seven.

Ms Doyle told the court: “My mother went off to bingo, leaving me at the mercy of my father, almost certainly knowing what he would do to me. My father raped me that night. I remember lying in bed that night but being unable to sleep because of the pain.”

Det Garda Darragh Phelan told Monika Leech, prosecuting, that there was a culture of fear and violence in the home and Ms Doyle’s mother would call her a “whore” while beating her. Ms Doyle said she believes her mother knew about the abuse.